General Law Hot Topics

The Dangers of Chemical Exposure

Chemical exposure from environmental disasters can happen at anytime or anywhere and the consequences can be devastating to you, your family and even your entire community. The implications of such a destructive catastrophe are disturbing to say the least. Your health, the health of your family or your community could be in jeopardy if such a catastrophe were to take place in your area. Take the case in Freeport, Texas, where a rupture of a railroad tank car at a transfer station caused an explosion that released 660 gallons oleum. The accident left 28 people injured and all the residents within a mile radius had to be evacuated. As catastrophic as that was; only 10% of the cargo was spilled. Do you know how chemical exposure can harm you or your family? Do you know what your rights as a victim of chemical exposure would be if it were to happen near your home, work or recreation area?  

Have you or someone you know been a victim of harmful chemical exposure? Contact an attorney proficient in environmental law that knows what your rights are after chemical exposure today!

You could be entitled to compensation if you have been exposed to harmful chemicals due to someone else’s negligence. People exposed to toxic chemicals can suffer for years and have chronic and prolonged health issues such as, respiratory abnormalities, skin lesions, brain damage, or even death. Chemical spills are dangerous and should never be dismissed or taken lightly. As in the case near Calamus, Iowa, where 1,300 gallons of a poisonous and corrosive gas escaped after a nurse tank split open from inadequate welding. The gas released, anhydrous ammonia, had fatal results in this case. Two loaders were seriously injured in this accident, one of which died nine days after from his exposure. 

Some common environmental spills that can have devastating effects are:

• Mercury
• Petroleum
• Octocure
• Cadmium cyanide
• Methyl isocyanate
• Dioxin
• Benzene
• Chlorides
• Waste products (Human or Chemical)

Even chemicals that we use every day can be devastating if not deadly, as in the case at Glenpool, Oklahoma, where a diesel storage tank containing 7,600 barrels of diesel fuel exploded. Luckily no one was killed in this accident but the resulting fire burned for about 21 hours and damaged two other storage tanks in the area. Nearby residents had to be evacuated for two days and the cost of the disaster was estimated at $2,357,483. Chemical spills or exposure can have an adverse effect on those exposed and overwhelming financial losses for those effected. Don’t just hope for the best if a chemical spill threatens your home or family. Seek a professional that knows what the correct chemical spill response is or should be. The chemical companies have lawyers watching out for their interests and you should too.

Have you or someone you know been a victim of harmful chemical exposure? Contact an attorney proficient in environmental law that knows what your rights are after chemical exposure today!

Article written by Juan Carlos Villamil contributing staff writer for SWI Digital, Inc.